are on the senate this morning as majority leader harry reid and minority leader mcconnell true to cobble together a last-minute plan to avoid the fiscal cliff. president obama saying he is modestly optimistic that they can come up with a plan in time. on friday, president obama met with the four top congressional leaders here at the white house for about an hour. sources close to those talks say that the president gave lawmakers two options, either come up with a plan that can make it through both chambers or put his proposal up for a vote. under the president's plan, the bush-era tax cuts would be extended for those making $250,000 or less with rates allowed to raise on top income earners. it would also extend unemployment insurance benefits. president obama saying the time for action is now. >> the american people are not going to have any patience for a politically self-inflicted wound. ordinary folks, they do their jobs. they meet deadlines. they sit down, and they discuss things and then things happen. if there are disagreements, they sort through the disagreements. the notion that our elect
